Vitamin C And Menstruation

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that plays an important role in prevention of many different types of cancers. Vitamin C maintains collagen essential to the growth and maintenance of tissues, skin, ligaments, muscles, bones and skin.

It is also an antihistamine that wards off many diseases, bacterial and viral infections. It boosts the immune system and helps heal wounds and mends fractures.

Vitamin C is plentiful in most fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C is also easily absorbed and assimilated. Because it is a water based vitamin, the human body stores it only in small quantities and it hence needs constant replenishment.

Menstruation is the monthly cycle each woman experiences during her child bearing years. It is a sign that the body is preparing itself for pregnancy. During menstruation which lasts between 2 to 7 days, blood along with the endometriosis tissue is lost as vaginal discharge. The loss of blood results in loss of iron which needs to be replenished to avoid fatigue, anemia and other undesirable side effects. Vitamin C is known to increase the absorptive powers of the body hence it is important to increase the intake of Vitamin C during this period. It can so be done by an increase in foods rich in vitamin C or alternatively by taking dietary supplements.

It is believed that high doses of ascorbic acid raise the estrogen levels which contribute to the termination of a normal pregnancy. Apparently a study was conducted on 20 pregnant women in Russia by administering high doses in the early stages of pregnancy. According to the reports, 16 of the 20 women began what appeared to be normal menstrual type bleeding from 1 to 3 days of commencing treatment. The reason advanced is that mega doses of Vitamin C prevent the egg from implanting itself on the uterine wall.

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Vitamin C And Menstruation